Canton village board holds off filling golf job

CANTON  After meeting behind closed doors for about two hours Thursday night, the village Board of Trustees took no action at a special meeting that was called to appoint a new superintendent for the Partridge Run Golf Course and Country Club.

Mayor David P. Curry said the board has received a few applications for the job and expects to wait until the boards monthly meeting March 18 to fill the position.

He declined to explain why the board called a special meeting to make the appointment, met in executive session and then took no action. Village Attorney Gerald J. Ducharme joined trustees for the executive session.

We had some personnel issues, Mr. Curry said following the meeting.

Henry A. Skip Wason, 55, of 6 Pleasant St., had served as golf course superintendent since 1994, when the village built the golf course off State Street Road.

The superintendent is responsible for maintaining the course.

At the village boards Nov. 19 meeting, board members voted to terminate Mr. Wasons eight-year contract, which had one more year remaining.

The board that night also agreed to seek a replacement and advertised for the position.

Mr. Wason said the villages handling of the situation has been bizarre.

Its bizarre because Ive done so much for this village, and Im not just patting myself on the back, Mr. Wason said. I built that course from the ground up into one of the best golf courses in the north country.

He acknowledged that he got behind on his personal income tax payments but said that should not have caused him to lose his job.

Thats not cause for termination, Mr. Wason said.

The current village budget includes an annual contractual fee of $56,000 for the position.

Mr. Wason said he received a letter from the board that did not include an explanation for its decision.

In January, he said, he met with village board members in executive session to discuss the situation.

He also has said he hired an attorney, Meredith Savitt, Albany.

Mr. Wason said he has submitted an application for the position and wants to get back to the job he held for 18 years.

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